AVALANCHE ROUT LIGHTNING TO TAKE A 2-0 SERIES LEAD

The Colorado Avalanche looked to take a 2-0 series lead on Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning and got back a big piece to their bottom six forward, Andrew Cogliano.

Cogliano missed Game 1 on Wednesday after undergoing surgery on his hand on June 9th. He slotted in on the fourth line on Saturday night with Nicolas Aube-Kubel being made a healthy scratch.

Cogliano in for Aube-Kubel— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 19, 2022

As they did in Game 1, the Avalanche got the scoring started early, this time less than three minutes in. Colorado was on the powerplay when Valeri Nichushkin tapped in a pass from Andre Burakovsky to make it 1-0 Avalanche.

Make way for the Chu Chu train! 😤🚂 #StanleyCup

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🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/QP5h9jwNp0 pic.twitter.com/kFV0kLQrxW— NHL (@NHL) June 19, 2022

Five minutes later, defenceman Josh Manson was on a two-on-one with Andre Cogliano and he fired it under Andrei Vasilevksiy's blocker to extend Colorado's lead to 2-0.

Perfect placement from @Joshmanson42! 🎯 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: ABC, @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/sBuIIVq6By
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/QP5h9jwNp0 pic.twitter.com/v3vxF1tadf— NHL (@NHL) June 19, 2022

With nearly six minutes remaining in the first period, the Avalanche added to their goal total. Andre Burakovsky brought the puck into the Lightning zone, then he passed it to Mikko Rantanen, who fired it on net. Andrei Vasilevksiy kicked the puck right into the slot where Burakovsky was left alone and he put the puck in Tampa's net to give Colorado a 3-0 lead.

For the second straight game, the Avalanche headed to the dressing room with three goals scored on Vasilevskiy in the first period.

Andre Burakovsky loves to score big goals. 💪 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: ABC, @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/sBuIIVq6By
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/QP5h9jwNp0 pic.twitter.com/keVKwX8Xh1— NHL (@NHL) June 19, 2022

The scoring continued in the second period nearly five minutes in. Mikko Rantanen broke up a pass behind the net and found Valeri Nichushkin alone in the slot, who potted his second of the game to put the Avalanche up 4-0.

Chu Chu's got two! And it had Shot of the Night written aaall over it. #StanleyCup

NHL x @JagermeisterUSA pic.twitter.com/oGtKQxAmSY— NHL (@NHL) June 19, 2022

Later in the period, veteran forward Darren Helm brought the puck into the zone on a partial two-on-one and ripped it top corner past Vasilevskiy's glove to open the flood gates and send his team to the dressing room with a 5-0 lead.

Darren Helm buries it to extend the @Avalanche's lead! #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: ABC, @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/sBuIIVq6By
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/QP5h9jwNp0 pic.twitter.com/LIub7FBGLd— NHL (@NHL) June 19, 2022

The third period was the Cale Makar show, with the 23-year-old scoring twice in the final frame to give the Colorado Avalanche a 7-0 lead. Makar's first goal of the period came on a two-on-one and much like Josh Manson, fired it under Vasilevskiy's blocker.

All hail ____. 🥬 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: ABC, @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/sBuIIVq6By
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/QP5h9jwNp0 pic.twitter.com/sipvNfIKjQ— NHL (@NHL) June 19, 2022

His second goal of the period came on the powerplay. Makar received a pass from Mikko Rantanen and put the puck under Vasilevskiy's arm. Colorado would hold on to the 7-0 lead and take a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final.

TWO FOR @Cmakar8!! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/Mqlg2aafIp— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) June 19, 2022

Avalanche netminder Darcy Kuemper made seventeen saves for the shutout, his second career Stanley Cup Playoff shutout.

While the Avalanche came away with the win, they did pick up another injury. Andre Burakovsky took a puck to the inside of his glove early in the second period, left the game and did not return.

For Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, that was the second time in his career that he's allowed seven goals in a single game. The first time it happened was February 22nd 2020 against the Arizona Coyotes.

This is only the second time in Andrei Vasilevskiy's 465-game NHL career he's given up seven goals in a game.

The other was Feb. 22, 2020 at Arizona.— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 19, 2022

Colorado will look to take a strangle hold on the series as the Stanley Cup Final shifts to Tampa Bay for Game 3 on Monday night at Amalie Arena. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET on CBC, Sportsnet and ABC.